Chronological History of the 23rd Avenue "People's Park" Firehouse
37 Twenty Third Avenue
The firehouse at 37 Twenty Third Avenue (at East 21st Street) opened on October 21, 1928 to house the newly created Engine Company 13 (groundbreaking was December 1927). The house was built with two bays for future expansion and in 1952 Truck Company one relocated there. Ultimately the house closed prematurely in 1962 due to the construction of Interstate Route 80 which required the land on which this firehouse and Engine Company 4 on Slater Street existed. Very few photos of this firehouse have come to light.
Dayspring Collection
1928: Correspondence related to ordering a pumper for the new Engine Company 13
Dayspring Collection
March 28, 1928: Contract bid for Ahrens Fox pumper that if executed would be placed in the new firehouse
April 13, 1928: Report of a competitive test done (Spruce Street) April 10, 1928 between an Ahrens Fox and an American LaFrance pumper
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Dayspring Collection
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July 14 1928: Fire and Police Commission decide to purchase the Ahrens Fox pumper
Dayspring Collection
July 22, 1928: New 23rd Avenue firehouse almost finished
The Guardian - courtesy Dennis Morrison
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September 14, 1928: Test of the new Ahrens Fox Pumper
Dayspring Collection
October 20, 1928: Engine Company 13 enters service with a 1928 Ahrens Fox Model N-S-4, 1000 GPM pumper (serial # 3334). It was the first Paterson Fox to have its Dietz Lanterns placed above of the rear hose bed. Note the testing report above (September 1928) performed by Master Mechanic Harry Dawson. The actual contract for this apparatus is on the Ahrens Fox Page
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October 20 Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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October 21, 1928: "People's Park" Firehouse on 23rd Avenue officially opens at 2:00 PM and is dedicated. Preceded by a parade with music by Police Band. Area citizens are asked to display flags from Noon till 2 PM.
October 20 Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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1928 Opening Roster
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A Shift
Captain Eugene Murphy (from E4) Ray Thompson (from T2) John Toomey (from E1) John Heinzelman (from E4) Joseph Schaefer (from E4) Joseph O'Donnell (from E6) |
B Shift
Captain James McLaughlin (from E1 Joseph Bray (from E1) Henry Bush (from E2) James Chaplain (from E7) Charles McGee (from E11) Elmer Probert (from T2) |
1930 Company Roster Engine 13
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A Shift
Captain Eugene Murphy Harold N. Kane Joseph Dunn John Toomey James Kelly John Heinzelman |
B Shift
Captain James McLaughlin Henry Bush Elmer Probert James Chaplain Joseph Bray Charles McGee |
1935: Men of Engine Company 13 A Shift: Captain Eugene Murphy, Harold N. Kane, Joseph Dunn, John Toomey, James Kelly, John Heinzleman
1936 Ball Book Photo
1935: Men of Engine Company 13 B Shift: Captain James McLaughlin, Henry Bush, Elmer Probert, James Chaplain, Joseph Bray, Charles McGee
1936 Ball Book Photo
1940 Paterson Evening News Golden Jubilee - Engine Company 13 Roster
Dayspring Collection
April 12, 1943: F/F Ted Tice (future Assistant Chief) appointed on March 1, 1943 of Engine Company 13 prepares to leaves for military service
Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison
1944 Annual Report Roster
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A Shift
Captain Herbert Dodds John Toomey Joseph Dunn Peter Percarpio |
B Shift
Captain Joseph Bray Andrew Greene Henry Westphall Henry Bush Harold N. Kane |
1946: Engine 13 B Shift at 23rd Street Firehouse: L-R- Unknown, FF Henry Bush, FF Harold N Kane, FF Harry Huber, Captain Joseph Bray. Ahrens Fox pumper in bay.
Courtesy Ron Huber
Pictured below is Chief Engineer James Troy with his driver Joseph Dow in the late 1940s with the gig parked outside the 23rd Street quarters (barely seen to the left).
Engine Company 13 Ahrens Fox is in the background.
Engine Company 13 Ahrens Fox is in the background.
1949 Ball Book Photo: Engine Company 13 "A Shift" Captain Herbert Dodds, John Toomey, Joseph Dunn, and Edward Westhoven
1949 Ball Book Photo: Engine Company 13 "B Shift" Captain Elia D'Addario, Harold N Kane, Henry Bush and John Thompson
January 27, 1949: Six "A" shift firefighters acquire Red cross first aid certificates
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Firefighters are standing along the side of Engine 13;s Ahrens Fox pumper
July 15, 1950: Paterson Evening News lists early 1950 Rosters of Engine 13 and Truck 1
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1952: Truck Company 1 relocated from 72 Jackson Street Firehouse to 23rd Avenue. At that time Truck 1 was using a 1929 Ahrens Fox Aerial 85-6-1 (Serial # 2047) which was acquired from Hastings on the Hudson, NY. It is shown below in front of Engine Company 13's bay. It was the only Paterson Ahrens Fox aerial to have a windshield and the only one to have its Vesta searchlight on the Captain's side (left) of cab.
1952 Wire Factory General Alarm on 21st Ave at Beech Street. Note a second AF aerial in upper background
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November 6, 1952: Station 541 3:10 PM 376-380 Graham Avenue 4th alarm Dwellings
Tiller area of Truck 1 aerial apparatus scorched
Tiller area of Truck 1 aerial apparatus scorched
November 7 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
March 1953: Engine Company 13 received a 1931 Ahrens Fox, 1000 GPM, Model N-T-4 (serial #3401) pumper previously used by Engine Companies 10 and 5 (pictured below when it was at Engine Company 3. The previous 1928 Ahrens Fox (Serial 3334) became a spare and sold in 1957.
Ahrens Fox 3401 when it was at E3
September 25, 1953: ENGINE COMPANY 13 - From the Morning Call Series of PFD Companies.
Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison
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Morning Call September 25, 1953 and 1954 FMBA Ball Book
A and B shifts of Engine 13 on firehouse apron: Front L-R: Captain Sal Madama, Harold N Kane, Frank Murray, William Flynn, Anthony Corbo, Joseph Dunn, William McVey, Captain Herbert Dodds. Back row L-R: Thomas Walsh, Raymond Allex.
October 2, 1953: TRUCK COMPANY 13 - From the Morning Call Series of PFD Companies. For info on company in the Volunteer Era CLICK HERE
Courtesy of Dennis Morrison
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Pictured is the very athletic FF Fran Hebda who as stated in above news clip routinely did handstands at the top of extended 75' aerial |
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October 10, 1953 Morning Call and 1954 Ball Book
Truck 1 A and B shifts: Front L-R: Captain Frank Early, Captain Theodore Tice, Russell Stephenson, Harry Ripey, Frank Hebda, and John Sisco. Back row L-R: Ed McEwan, Paul Shaw, Frank Dalton, Joe Donnelly (Apparatus is Ahrens Fox aerial: Serial # 2047)
1954 Advertisement featuring 23rd Avenue Firehouse and Chief Strathearn
Note Oak Gong at Watch Station, Truck 1 Ahrens Fox aerial with chains on tire is pulling out of FH - suspect the FF on the phone is Chief Strathern's aide.
Two doors of the firehouse with gig at right (likely that of visiting Chief Strathearn). Door at left is the bay of Truck 1
May 11, 1954: Truck Company 1 received a new 1952 FWD tractor (Serial # 8042) which was attached to its Ahrens Fox Aerial (Serial # 2047).
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The photo at left, taken a decade later at Lakeview Firehouse is of the 1954 FWD cab. The 1952 FWD cab did not have the "FWD" below the grill or the blinker lights on windshield. |
December 20, 1954: Truck 1 received the 1952 FWD 85' aerial (Model FA85K) previously used by Truck Company 2. The apparatus was a tad too long to comfortably fit at 115 Van Houten Street
The scene below is 1956 School 24 fire. Truck Co 3 is at bottom in foreground and Truck 1 at the top with aerial raised. On the ladder of Truck 1 is Angelo Contini with an unknown uniformed officer above him. Rescue Truck also visible. The other Truck in the foreground is Company 3 which had a 1954 FWD cab with an a 1932 Ahrens Fox 75' aerial trailer.
August 21, 1957: F/F William Casperson injured on sliding pole
August 22 Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison
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Bill Casperson as a Captain
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January 21, 1958: The 1948 Mack used by Engine 1 transferred to Engine 13 and the Ahrens Fox pumper goes out of service
January 23, 1958: Engine Company 13 Ahrens Fox Pumper (register 3401) is retired - Sold by the City to Hardyston Township where it saw a few more years of data as Company 3. They added a windshield.
1931 Ahrens Fox (Serial 3401) at Hardyston FD. Windshield added.
January 23, 1958: Engine Company 13 receives the 1948 Mack Model 95 1000 GPM Triple Combination pumper formerly used by Engine Company 5. It is shown below, later in time, at the Lakeview Firehouse on Trenton Avenue (with its 1968 plywood riot roofs).
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June 13, 1958: Friday the Thirteenth - Of historical note - Captain Dodd's PFD badge was #12. The story in the paper is referring to his helmet shield with the #13 on it (not his badge as stated) |
Herbert Dodds - Appointed PFD May 16, 1925 – Badge # 12 - Promoted to Captain January 1, 1942
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January 23, 1959: Engine 13 in accident at Madison and Getty Avenues
Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison
August 6, 1960: The 23rd Avenue Firehouse had to be vacated to make way for the construction on Interstate Route 80 which was bisecting Paterson.
Paterson Evening News courtesy Dennis Morrison
February 3 1962: Engine Company 13 and Truck Company 1 relocated to the newly constructed Lakeview Firehouse at 125 Trenton Avenue.